We will be holding a rally at the Flag Pavilion off of International Blvd, just in front of the terminal parking entrance (across the street from the Radisson Hotel) on Saturday February 16th, from 2PM – 4PM.

We will be joined by representatives from the Martin Luther King Labor Council, AFGE and other Labor Groups. Alaska Airlines management supports our push to end government shutdowns, and has approved wearing uniforms to picket. Red t-shirts or street clothes are also acceptable, but uniforms are preferred.

We need to make certain that the public and our co-workers understand the serious effects of a government shutdown on aviation safety.

There is a real threat of continuing the shutdown to day 36. Federal workers were already stretched to a breaking point and may have not received the pay the are due from the 35 day shutdown and programs have not started again. The system will be in crisis if we go to day 36 and it may not be able to recover quickly.

AFA Council #19 will be joining industry-wide work groups in calling for an end to using government workers, upon whom we and the traveling public depend for our safety, as pawns in political debates. We will be conducting leafleting during the week of February 11th – 15th at SeaTac.

If you can spare a bit of time next week, please contact Bev Bullock at blkbullock@gmail.com. We would prefer that you leaflet in uniform, if possible.

AFA-CWA is scheduling a webcast for members on Monday, February 11th at 5PM EST to explain the dangers of a continued government shutdown. Further information will be sent out soon!!

Why are we doing this?

The longest running government shutdown in history has ended, at least temporarily. Workers who were deemed ‘essential’ by their agencies were forced to come back to work without pay for 35 days. The end of that shutdown was only temporary, however. It is important to note that not all furloughed employees have been paid yet!

AFA has been crucial in calling for an end to this dangerous gambit. Industry leaders, including our Alaska Air Group management and leaders from other airlines have called for an end to the practice.

TSA agents were working without pay, and at one point, KCM in Seattle was closed. Air Traffic Control nation-wide is currently 30% below optimum staffing levels. Nationwide, 20% of the Controllers are approaching mandatory retirement age at 56. In New York, 40% are nearing retirement. It takes 3-5 years to fully train these workers, upon whom we rely for our safety.

Runway incursion mitigation studies and remediation have stopped, as has the Next Gen upgrading of our nationwide systems, which is designed to improve our safety. Restarting both of these essential programs is very time consuming. Some of the contractors involved have not yet been paid, and it is uncertain when and if they WILL be.

The FAA Reauthorization bill which contained our minimum irreducible 10-hour rest has not been implemented, and it is unclear when that will take place. In addition, operations into Paine Field have been delayed until March 4, 2019.

These are just a few of the impacts on our Safety. This simply cannot occur again.

Rescheduled Joint Local Council Meeting:

Due to the predicted snow storm that is supposed to begin this weekend, which is predicted to be worse than the one this week, we felt it was in our best interest to postpone the meeting.

We have rescheduled the meeting, to March 15th, from 11:30AM – 2:30PM. It will be in the Earhart Room on the LP (Lower Plaza) level, South Tower of the SeaTac Office Tower (the same building as 13 Coins. Free parking is available in front of the building, or we can validate your parking ticket if you park in the rear.

This will be a joint council meeting, with Compass and Horizon Airlines joining us. This is the annual pre-Board of Directors meeting. This year is a one-day meeting, and the agenda will consist solely of the AFA-CWA Annual Budget.

The PBS Committee wants to remind you that only two bid months remain before we cut over to using ONLY the ‘new’ PBS platform. In May, you must bid using solely the new PBS website. If you’re struggling with learning the new website, time is running short to get help.

More support material is found at the PBS QA SharePoint site, including the PBS Program Guide. You can save it on your computer. The PBS QA is accessed via the Inflight webpage or by clicking here.

Everyone was paid on November 20th, 2018 to read/watch the training material designed for you by the PBS Committee. Thousands of your co-workers have already cut over to the new website and are having no problems. Airbus FA’s are bidding using only the new website. It’s time for the remainder of our group to get on board!

Latest News

On October 25, 2018, the Company and AFA arbitrated Grievance 36-99-2-29-15 (Section 28.G.6 Commuter Boarding Priority). This grievance alleged the Company’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement when management allowed Company employees (and their dependents) on pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants. AFA is very pleased to inform you […]

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three Special Negotiating Committee (SNC) Member positions related to negotiation of a possible San Francisco co-terminal agreement. The MEC thanks the candidates for demonstrating their willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the voting members of your MEC, consisting of the six directly-elected […]

Management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy for the recent snowstorms AFA filed Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of Section (§) 28.G.2 [Ground Commuting Policy] prior to close of regular business hours yesterday. This contractual grievance alleges the Company violated Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement §28.G.2 when management did not allow Flight Attendants […]

Flight 261 sundial at Point Hueneme, CA by Armando Rios Alaska Airlines Flight 261 PVR-SFO-SEA was lost on January 31, 2000, when it crashed off the coast near Point Hueneme in Southern California when it suffered a catastrophic flight control failure. We will never forget Flight Attendant Kristin Mills, Flight Attendant Craig Pulanco, Flight Attendant Allison Shanks, […]

After much anticipation, the wait is over. Cross-flying, referenced as “Full Integration” in the Merger Agreement, will occur in just a few hours. It is one of the most major milestones that we will pass in this merger. As you all well know by now, there has been so much change in so little time, […]

Want To Stay In The Loop?

The best way to stay connected with up-to-date AFA Alaska news and information is through a subscription to AFA Alaska emails! Click the button below to sign up. Already a subscriber? You can make changes to your email by clicking below!